Conference Introduction

The UNCITRAL Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RCAP) and the University of Macau (UM) are pleased to announce the UNCITRAL RCAP-UM Joint Conference 2024, themed “Trade Law Harmonization in an Era of Generative AI: Revisiting UNCITRAL Legal Standards on Uniform Sales Law, e-Commerce, Dispute Settlement, and Insolvency.” The conference will be held on 27 November 2024 at the Faculty of Law, University of Macau (Macau SAR), as a hybrid event (in-person and online participation with Zoom).

This year’s conference aims to assess the relevance and significance of contemporary works of UNCITRAL in promoting transparency and digital trade, particularly in the context of emerging technologies like generative AI. A key goal of the conference is to advance the understanding of UNCITRAL’s legal standards in international trade, investments, insolvency, and transparency in dispute settlements while drawing from both global and regional experiences.

The diverse thematic tracks of the conference will focus on examining the scope and significance of legal harmonization in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world, with special attention to how these developments are impacting international commerce and dispute-resolution processes. The conference is aimed at deliberating the boarder theme of the conference including (but not limited to) the following issues in light of harmonized legal standards of UNCITRAL:

1. Transparency and Developments Relating to ISDS: Balancing Diverse Interests Reflecting UN SDGs
2. Legal Innovations and E-Commerce: Use of Artificial Intelligence and Automation in Contracts and Data Provision Contracts.
3. Technology-Related Dispute Resolution: Recognition and Enforcement of Electronic Arbitral Awards.
4. Emerging and Regional Issues in Trade Law Harmonization and the Relevance of CISG to Macau SAR.
5. Applicable Law, Civil Asset Tracing and Recovery in Insolvency Proceedings and Handling of Sensitivities in Insolvency, including for MSMEs.

Organising Institutions

The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), is the core institution of legal harmonization in the field of international trade law in the United Nations system. UNCITRAL seeks to progressively harmonize and modernize trade laws by preparing and promoting the adoption and use of legislative and non-legislative instruments in several key areas of commercial law. UNCITRAL RCAP (Incheon, Republic of Korea) was inaugurated in 2012 to promote the work of UNCITRAL in the Asia-Pacific region and provide technical assistance to the states concerning the implementation and uniform interpretation of UNCITRAL texts, thereby diminishing legal obstacles to global commercial transactions.

The University of Macau, founded in 1981, is the leading comprehensive public university in Macau. It is a resourceful and ambitious educational institution with a unique Sino-European heritage and global connections. In 2024, UM is ranked No 193 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, No 14 in the THE Young University Rankings, No 36 in the THE Asia University Rankings, and No 1 in the Association of Portuguese Speaking Universities.

The Faculty of Law of the University of Macau, responsible for organizing the conference, is the oldest law school in Macau. With its diverse multilingual programs and teaching staff of international backgrounds, the Faculty has been playing a vital role in promoting legal education and research in Macau and contributing to the build-up of the local legal system. In addition, the Faculty of Law has a specific focus on global legal studies and has successfully held many high-level international conferences and academic events on a range of contemporary international legal topics.

Supporting Institutions

The organization of the conference is supported by key arbitration centers and other dispute resolution institutions including the Macau World Trade Center Arbitration Center; the CIETAC Hong Kong Arbitration Center; the Shanghai Arbitration Commission,the Zhuhai Court of  International Arbitration; the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitraion and eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre.